Gaming Steve

This week I talk about Diablo III and Starcraft 2, give details about my upcoming talks at I-CON 25, review an IGF Competition Finalist, answer a ton of show mail, and so much more. Enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 37 Program 00:06:08 Game News: New DS hitting Japan this March. The US gets Brainy this spring. Xbox 360 loses the remote. Stargate enters the MMO universe. Blizzard stirring up hell recruiting for the Diablo team. The Empire strikes gold. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Supreme Commander delayed until 2007. PCs to be Condemned this spring. 00:29:13 SporeTalk: I answer lots of questions about Spore. 00:38:19 Game Review: Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space for the PC. 00:49:42 RetroReview: Aliens vs. Predator 2 for the PC. 00:56:47 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize! 01:02:28 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions. 01:46:00 Final Thoughts: Results from last week’s Final Thoughts contest, why Starcraft 2 isn’t coming any time soon, a

This week I give details about the first official Gaming Steve Tournament for Mario Kart DS, a new contest about your “funniest” gaming moment, and answer a ton of show mail. Gaming Steve Episode 36 Program 00:04:17 Game News: GameStop expects to fulfill 360 orders in February (but not online or EB Games orders). Give thanks, the Revolution to be released by Thanksgiving. Majesco no longer a “premium” publisher. WoW nabs millionth European customer and more than 5.5 million worldwide. China’s online game regulations relaxed. Gizmondo Europe bankrupt. Heroes of Might and Magic V beta now open. E3 dresses up the babes and games. Nintendo snags 3 million online. New Mother has a date. 50 Cent sells through a million. Star Trek: Legacy to beam onto PCs and the 360. Sony zips up Zipper. 00:31:12 SporeTalk: I answer lots of questions about Spore. 00:41:09 Game Review: Dragon Quest VIII for the PlayStation 2. 00:58:32 RetroReview: Baldur’s Gate II for the PC. 01:10:47 “Nam

This week I review a Japanese import for the Nintendo DS and actually play it on the show. The results are, err, interesting. Also the results from the “Final Thoughts Contest” from a few weeks ago and the list of your favorite games of 2005. Gaming Steve Episode 35 Program 00:01:45 Game News: BloodRayne opening declared “a debacle”. EA trademarks “System Shock”. The Tetris are coming! The Tetris are coming! 25 to Life (anyone remember this game?) is released. 2005 a record year for US console gaming. 2005 is also a record year in the UK. Meanwhile Nintendo totally owns Japan in 2005. US PC sales drop 14 percent. 00:21:29 GameTalk: What is the future of PC gaming? 00:36:33 SporeTalk: I answer lots of questions about Spore. 00:47:43 Game Review: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! for the Nintendo DS. 00:56:30 RetroReview: System Shock 2 for the PC. 01:06:10 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a very cool prize! 01:09:06 Show Mail: I answer your aud

Welcome to my first interview podcast for 2006 where I got the chance to sit down with Jeff Strain, Founder and President of ArenaNet, and makers of the hugely successful Guild Wars.During our talk we discuss the upcoming expansion Guild Wars: Factions, Jeff’s thinking behind creating a dynamically generated MMO world, the technology behind their worldwide servers and content streaming system, the upcoming schedule for new future content, as well as much more. Enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 34 Program 00:03:16 GameTalk: Interview with Jeff Strain from ArenaNet, the makers of Guild Wars. 00:31:00 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions. 01:09:00 Final Thoughts on my contest from last week, the new Gaming Steve T-shirts, and what I’m currently playing. Download the show (73 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 34 (MP3). Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). Add the Gaming Steve Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator. Vote for Gaming Steve on Podcast Alley.

Why not start off the new year with a healthy dose of some Gaming Steve? I’m back with the first podcast of 2006, enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 33 Program 00:02:17 Game News: Pokemon USA threatens to sue cancer researchers. World of Warcraft pop 5 million and counting. Monster WOW patch released. G4 takes on Trek. EA adjusts earnings downward. NHL checks EA exclusivity offer. Judge blocks California game law. Jack Thompson buys shares in Take-Two. Video games get commemorative postage stamps. Why was Take-Two’s Paul Eibeler the “Worst CEO of 2005”? 00:35:03 GameTalk: Too much mail! Moved this week to the Show Mail segment. 00:35:53 SporeTalk: A look at my third exclusive Spore artwork and important Spore-related dates. 00:42:19 Game Review: Condemned: Criminal Origins for the Xbox 360. 00:58:30 RetroReview: The Bard’s Tale for the IBM PC, Apple ][, Apple ][GS, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, NES, Macintosh, and Sinclair ZX. 01:11:33 “Name That Game!” contest wi

In the last Gaming Steve of 2005 I sit down with the Vice President of Big Huge Games, Tim Train (Civilization, Master of Orion, Alpha Centauri). Big Huge Games made the excellent Rise of Nations and is hard at work on the upcoming RTS Rise of Legends. In the interview we cover the game’s unique setting, issues we both had with Alpha Centauri, how the RTS genre is evolving, playing Magic: The Gathering, how to balance a complex RTS, the very cool Rise of Legends single-player campaign, the why the director’s cut of the movie Aliens really stinks. Oh yeah, and I also go over my best games of 2005. Enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 32 Program 00:03:14 GameTalk: Interview with Tim Train from Big Huge Games, the makers of the upcoming Rise of Legends. 01:13:41 Special Feature: The best games of 2005. 01:51:08 Final Thoughts on what 2006 will bring us and farewell until then! Download the show (113 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 32 (MP3). Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). Add the Gamin

Happy Holidays everyone! And as my gift to you I give you the biggest damn show I have ever done! Enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 31 Program 00:05:28 Game News: IGF nominees announced. EverQuest goes Titanium. Working Designs closes up shop. Midway closes Aussie and San Diego studios. Xbox 360 fails to impress Japan. November game sales down 18 percent. Activision warns of “significantly lower” earnings. NCsoft and Marvel make nice. Jamdat investor sues to stop EA purchase. Wik swings onto Xbox Live Arcade. Civil suit in Alabama goes forward. eBayer pays big bucks for photo of Xbox 360. 00:47:53 GameTalk: Are we heading towards another video game crash? 01:17:07 SporeTalk: A look at my second exclusive Spore artwork and I answer some questions. 01:27:30 Game Review: Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time for the Nintendo DS. 01:37:47 Game Review: Shadow of the Colossus for the PlayStation 2. 01:47:07 RetroReview: Hercules for the arcade. 01:52:19 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week,

I’m back from vacation with a monster episode and a little bit of everything. Exclusive Spore design artwork (with more to come!), I take answer your questions, I review the 360 and more! Gaming Steve Episode 30 Program 00:02:35 Game News: Xbox 360 has rocky start at retail. Revolution to be unveiled in May. Ten most violent games named. Stainless Steel Studios and Digital Anvil are melted down. Xbox 360 lands across the pond. Defective 360s? Here comes the lawsuits. Illinois game laws overturned. ESRB fails the grade. EA swallows Jamdat. Clinton introducing federal game regulation. 00:36:00 GameTalk: The end of games as we know it? 00:56:27 SporeTalk: A look at my exclusive Spore artwork and the evolution of design. 01:04:43 Game Review: The Xbox 360 system. 01:33:42 RetroReview: Coleco Telstar systems. 01:43:31 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a mystery prize! 01:47:52 Show Mail: I answer your audio questions. 02:09:22 Final Thoughts on the T-Shirt design con

In this special Gaming Steve episode I sit down with Scott Brown and Ryan Seabury from NetDevil, the makers of the upcoming Auto Assault. In the interview we cover the game’s setting, the three player races, the character creation process, new features in the public Beta, the crafting, the weapons, the cars, and the oh-so-much-fun mindless destruction. Enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 29 Program 00:07:04 GameTalk: Interview with Scott Brown and Ryan Seabury from NetDevil, the makers of the upcoming Auto Assault. 00:28:52 Show Mail: I answer your gaming questions. 00:45:04 Final Thoughts on developing games in chilly Colorado. Download the show (48 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 29 (MP3). Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). Add the Gaming Steve Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator. Vote for Gaming Steve on Podcast Alley.

This week’s episode is a “super special episode” as I cover the worldwide launch of the Xbox 360 at Best Buy in Midtown Manhattan. If you think you’re a hardcore gamer wait until you meet these guys. They waited in the freezing cold and rain, many for upwards of 20+ hours, just so that they could buy an Xbox 360 12:01 AM Tuesday morning. Check it out: Gaming Steve Episode 28 Program 00:02:50 Talking with the guys waiting in line. 00:16:15 Chatting it up with the Best Buy Geek Squad. 00:20:18 The pre-sale employee “psych up” meeting. 00:21:35 The doors open, and the madness begins. 00:29:23 Wrap up of the big event, time to get some sleep. Download the show (33 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 28 (MP3). Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). Add the Gaming Steve Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator. Vote for Gaming Steve on Podcast Alley.

Welcome to the bonus episode of Gaming Steve. This was actually part of the last episode but it was so big that I had to cut it into two. Make sure to listen to the details on the Gaming Steve T-Shirt design contest and join our Frappr! family. Enjoy the bonus goodness! Gaming Steve Episode 27 Program 00:04:02 Game News: PlayStation 3 won’t play borrowed, used, or rented games? Jack leaves on his own terms. World domination of Warcraft continues. Man profits from virtual island. 360s in short supply. 360 to play 200+ Xbox games in US but … … Japan only gets 12 games and … … Europe gets 156 games. Xbox 360 midnight madness. Darwinian evolves onto Steam. Nintendo Wi-Fi hits speed bump. EA slashes prices. What is … World of Warcraft? Rare’s Perfect gamble. 00:42:10 GameTalk: How is the industry changing? 01:03:04 SporeTalk: Tell me what you want to hear. 01:08:08 Game Review: City of Villains for the PC. 01:24:39 RetroReview: Chiller for the arcade. 01:33:15 Ret

In this special Gaming Steve episode I sit down with Jack Emmert, aka “The Statesman”, Creative Director of Cryptic Studios. In the interview Jack and I talk about City of Heroes and the newly released City of Villains (of course), the future of comics, what’s next for Cryptic, Jack’s favorite comics, and much more. Oh yeah, and we talk about the comic book classic Atari Force, enjoy! Gaming Steve Episode 26 Program 00:03:59 GameTalk: Interview with Jack Emmert, aka “The Statesman”, Creative Director at Cryptic Studios. 00:28:28 Show Mail: I answer your audio and email questions. 01:16:05 Final Thoughts on finding an Xbox 360, the PSP as a gaming platform, and where is the rest of the show? Download the show (83 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 26 (MP3). Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). Add the Gaming Steve Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator. Vote for Gaming Steve on Podcast Alley.

I guess I have totally given up on trying to make the show shorter as every time I try it just ends up longer. Oh well, enjoy this week’s gaming goodness. Gaming Steve Episode 25 Program 00:01:36 Game News: Xbox.com is reborn. Video Games Live canceled … again. Peter Jackson POed with EA. Virtual property sells for $100k. Uwe Boll splits Dungeon Siege movie (Ed note: after the show was recorded Uwe changed his mind and will now release one 2 hour and 40 minute movie instead). Blizzard fires up the Burning Crusade. Star Wars Galaxies commits seppuku. Sony Online developing “free” MMO. City of Villains unleashes its evil on the world. Elder Scrolls IV missing Xbox 360 launch. Sony starts selling PSP Media Manager. Starcraft: Ghost skipping GameCube. Xbox 360 Lounge opens in Tokyo. Doh! EA snags The Simpsons for next-gen. Bioware and Pandemic form partnership. EA announces Command & Conquer 12-pack. 00:46:08 GameTalk: I answer lots of viewer questions. 01:18:34 SporeTalk: A new

This week I got a chance to speak with Xbox Live’s Major Nelson where we chat about the new Xbox Live, cool new Xbox 360 features, Major’s gaming history, German booth babes, and much more. Check it out. Gaming Steve Episode 24 Program 00:04:22 Game News: GameTap unleashes classic games to the masses. California game restriction law disputed. Big Mac, fries, and Wi-Fi. Xbox 360 controller for sale in stores … really. Wal-Mart demoing the 360. GameStop receiving 360 kiosks. San Andreas hits retail yet again. 10 million PSPs in 10 months. Dead or Alive 4 … now with more Spartan. Satin Sliver PS2 buggy? Gizmondo? Bless you. The Main Event: Penny Arcade vs. Thompson. 00:31:10 GameTalk: Interview with Xbox Live’s Major Nelson, Larry Hryb. 00:59:46 SporeTalk: I break open some emergency rations. 01:00:40 Game Review: The Warriors for the Xbox and PS2. 01:11:15 RetroReview: Swordquest for the Atari 2600. 01:24:19 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and

After spending two days playing with the Xbox 360 I decided that I needed to do something special for this week’s show. So I sat down with Nick Puleo from Evil Avatar, John Callaham from Gamecloud, and James Ransom-Wiley from Joystiq to dissect every aspect of the Xbox 360. We talk about the hardware, the interface, every single game at the event, and a lot more for over an hour and a half! It’s like getting two shows in one, check it out. Gaming Steve Episode 23 Program 00:02:15 Game News: EA Settles Lawsuit. GameStop and EB become one. GameStop cuts 700 jobs. The Goverantor targets violent video games. Judge sentences gamer to death. Activision cards web users. Game pirate walks the plank. Xbox 360 backwards compatible with just Halo? Steven Spielberg and EA get back together. Blizzard is spying on you. 00:21:55 GameTalk: Roundtable discussion of the Xbox 360 New York City Press Event with Nick Puleo from Evil Avatar, John Callaham from Gamecloud, and James Ransom-Wiley from Joystiq. 01:52:

Everyone has been nice and patient, waiting for the “big podcast surprise”. Well the wait is over! Check out the new and improved Gaming Steve Podcast where I cover: 00:02:42 Game News: Sam & Max Resurrected … again. Field Commander to deploy on the PSP. Sims 2 preparing to Open For Business. PlayStation 3 controller design not final? Of course! Black & White 2 descending next week. G4 founder vacates his post. Microsoft in legal battle … again. Advent Children DVD flies off Japanese shelves. EB Games out of Xbox 360s? Game Boy Micro arrives. Guild Wars enlists one million. GTA to release several new versions. Age of Empires III golden. Man sentenced in GTA leak. 25 to Life delayed. NYPD commish rips True Crime. Xbox 360 controller sold on eBay. Xbox lost Microsoft $4 billion (and counting). Perfect Dark Zero loses features. Far Cry Instincts ships out. Ubisoft unveils PSP Prince of Persia. Serious Sam sequel ready for action. Get ready for the HD-DVD/Blu-ray wars. Madden bug

With the fall gaming season right around the corner things are starting to get busy in the world of gaming. So let’s jump right into this week’s show! 00:00:55 Game News: Nintendo ringtones? Sweet! GameStop-EB merger almost complete. World of Warcraft expansion to debut at BlizzCon. Rockstar serving decaf in September. Age of Empires III demo sets sail. Myst V set for bittersweet farewell. News Corp. absorbs IGN. Key Blizzard departures appear at Red 5 Studios. Guild Wars: Sorrow’s Furnace stoked. Girls of gaming strip down for Playboy (again). The first game-movie hybrid UMD to be released. Anarchy Online continues to be free. EverQuest & EverQuest II expanded. WOW patch adds oodles of new content. Sims 2 Nightlife ready to party! It’s Sony turn to recall their AC adapters. Retailers react to California games bill. ESRB demands publisher audit for hidden game content. Michigan “violent gaming” bill signed into law. 00:35:56 GameTalk: Welcome to the post-Hot Coffee

This week is the “extra large news week” edition plus two “reviews” and two “RetroReviews”! Oh yeah, and if you buy the new “super insane crazy Xbox 360 bundle” I’ll have you on my show! Enjoy the gaming bounty: 00:02:30 Game News: Game Boy Micro coming September 19th … how many more can they make?! Zelda: Twilight Princess delayed, of course. Xbox $399. All hail! Caesar returns to the PC! Madden 2006 tackles sale charts. Star Wars Galaxies causes a great disturbance in the Force. Halo goes Hollywood. China gets serious with online gaming addicts. Come on, buy the Xbox 360 Omega bundle for $2000 … I dare you! Auto Assault applies the brakes. Asheron’s Call 2 goes dark. Nintendo buys itself. We Love Katamari, oh yes we do! Another week, another million people join WOW. Xbox Live 2.0 priced. 00:40:20 GameTalk: What on earth was Microsoft thinking when they priced the Xbox 360? 00:57:30 SporeTalk: No news is good news? 00:59:09 QuickTa

After a semi-slow summer the big games are starting to appear. First up is Chris Taylor’s new Dungeon Siege II for the PC … find out if it’s a winner or a stinker. Oh yeah, I also cover these stories as well: 00:01:26 Game News: No more Hot Coffee for you! “Video games made me do it” fails in court. Parents ignore game age ratings. GameTap set for October launch. Madden 2006, the only game in town. Blizzard shuts down their Northern operation. Microsoft wants money from everyone. How many Xbox 360 different bundles will Microsoft release? Sony may release PS3 in 2007. Quake 3 source code to be released. Dirk the Daring return to the Dragon’s Lair! 00:37:58 GameTalk: What happens when you try to buy gold for World of Warcraft? 00:58:22 SporeTalk: The calm before the storm. 01:01:03 Game Review: Dungeon Siege II for the PC. 01:24:04 RetroReview: NetHack/Rogue for Unix/PC/everything. 01:29:24 “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a new prize!

So what happens when I try to do a shorter podcast? I end up recording my longest show ever. Nice. Check it out: Hot Coffee news until your head explodes! Every 30 seconds Xbox Live grows by one. World of Warcraft just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Microsoft confirms worldwide Xbox 360 launch. Advertising to invade all video games all the time. Hot Coffee Part 2 — The Sims 2. GameTalk: Hot Coffee is over — now what? SporeTalk: How is Spore going to handle controversial downloadable content and the “new, more sensitive” ESRB? In-depth review of Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee for the PSP. RetroReview: Heroes of Might and Magic III for the PC. “Name That Game!” contest winner from last week, a new clip, and a new prize! Plus some more random thoughts on why gaming is good for “the children” and some recommended reading. Get the podcast from this page (104 minutes): Gaming Steve Episode 18.You can also subscribe to the weekly podcast.